Re: H-3 Exit Signs

[JMUCKERHEIDE@delphi.com]

Can you confirm that this project was NOT due to "radiological" concerns?
 
> Over the last two and half years I have been involved in a program to 
> remove tritium powered radioluminescent airfield lighting units from 
> the State of Alaska.  These units totaled over a quarter of a mega 
> curie of activity and are very similar in design to exit signs. 
> 
> We had 12 - 15 units that had been broken, with releases ranging from 
> 50 - 350 curies of activity.  The gase from a broken tube dissipates 
> very rapidly and unless you are in a small sealed room with few 
> airchanges there is little risk.  This situation changes if the units 
> casing has lost integrity.  The phosphor powder from these tubes is 
> highly contaminated with tritium and provides a ready path for 
> inhalation or ingestion.  Our total dose from handling these large 
> broken units was less than ten mRem CEDE.
Thanks.

Regards, Jim Muckerheide
jmuckerheide@delphi.com